Dry Needling

No, Trigger Point Dry Needling is based on Western medical research and principles, whereas acupuncture is based on Eastern Chinese Medicine. The main similarity is that the same sterile, disposable, solid filament needles are used. Dr. Kloosterman is one of many physical therapists in northern Indiana who has been certified in dry needling and has been using it with great success for the past several years.

The reality is that anyone with pain or dysfunctional movement can benefit from Trigger Point Dry Needling. No physician referral is needed to participate in Physical Therapy.

During a TDN treatment, you will commonly feel discomfort, aching, and twitching of the muscle(s) being treated. The twitching is the releasing of the trigger point in the muscle. It is not uncommon for more dysfunctional muscles to experience more intense aching and twitching during a treatment.

It is common after a TDN session to feel an immediate change in the treated area. These changes may include but are not limited to; increased range of motion, decreased or eliminated pain with the previously painful movement, and post-workout type muscular soreness in the area treated. The soreness may also be likened to post-deep massage soreness.

You may feel sore immediately after treatment in the area of the body you were treated; this is normal but does not always occur. It can also take a few hours or until the next day before you feel soreness. The soreness may vary depending on the body area that was treated and varies from person to person, but typically it feels like you had an intense workout at the gym. Soreness typically lasts 24-48 hours. If soreness continues beyond this, please get in touch with your treating therapist.

It is not uncommon to have bruises after treatment; some areas are more likely than others to bruise. Some common areas are the shoulders, the base of the neck, head, face, arms, and legs. Large bruising rarely occurs but can. Use ice to help decrease the bruising, and if you feel concerned, please call your therapist.

It is not uncommon to feel tired, nauseous, emotional, giggly, or “loopy,” and/or somewhat “out of it” after treatment. This is a normal response that can last up to an hour or two after treatment. If this lasts beyond a day, contact your treating therapist as a precaution.

There are times when treatment may actually make your typical symptoms worse. This is normal. If this continues past the 24-48 hour window, keep note of it, as this is helpful information, and your treating therapist will then adjust your treatment plan based on your report if needed. This does not mean TDN cannot help your condition.

It is highly recommended that you increase your water intake for the next 24 hours after treatment to help avoid soreness.
It is recommended that you soak in a hot bath or hot tub to help avoid post-treatment soreness or enjoy our Far Infrared Sauna.

After treatment, you may do the following based on your comfort level if it hurts or exacerbates your symptoms, stop;

Work out and/or stretch
Massage the area
Use a heating pad
*Avoid ice unless you are icing a bruise; heat is better for muscle soreness.
*It is not recommended to drink alcohol. If you chose to do so, do not drink excessively.